Raina, Jadeja hail Hussey's influence on Chennai

Chennai stormed into their 4th consecutive Indian T20 League final, and their fifth overall, yesterday with clinical win against the Mumbai side. Vital to this success was Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina with the bat and Ravindra Jadeja with the ball. Hussey and Raina shared a brilliant unbeaten stand after the fall of Murali Vijay's wicket to first steady the innings and later provide the fireworks to end with a solid total. Hussey smashed 86 off 58 balls, while Raina was more aggressive during his 42 ball 82 as Chennai ended with 192/1. During their chase, Mumbai seemed to be cruising along thanks to an early blitz by Dwayne Smith, but a terrific comeback sparked by Ravindra Jadeja helped Chennai seal the match quite comprehensively in the end.

Speaking the iplt20.com, Raina and Jadeja stressed on the importance of Michael Hussey's contribution to their team this Indian T20 League and their delight at making the 4th straight final appearance.

"It has been a very good effort by the team and especially our coaching staff. We have done well and feel good now. There is one more game to go. There are three days in between so there will be a lot of thinking going on. We have a lot of hard work to do. The Kolkata wicket is not easy, you will have to work hard. I hope if we practice there for a day it will help. God willing things will be good. Let us see what happens," Raina said.

Jadeja said of Hussey's effort: "He has given us very good starts when opening, with stands of 50 plus. In the middle overs too he rotates the strike and it is a very good thing that we have got an opener like him. It is good that he has contributed so well throughout the season and we hope in the final too he plays a good long innings and helps the team win."

Raina added that it was great batting alongside Hussey and that both players being experienced helped them outwit the bowlers.

"It is important how you bat under pressure. I have always enjoyed batting with Hussey. He is such a nice player, and is amazing when it comes to delivering in pressure situations. I have learnt a lot from him in the middle."

I am an experienced player so I knew that I had responsibility on me. But the plan was the more we bat till the end the better. And since both of us are left-hand batsmen and they have Mitchell Johnson and Harbhajan Singh and their overs were over. (Pragyan) Ojha had to bowl and we could target him," he said.

The left-hander added that the presence of coach Stephen Fleming and skipper MS Dhoni gives him a lot to learn.

"Fleming's way of thinking is amazing. He has played over hundred Tests and he knows when you are losing and when you are succeeding. What to do off the field. I am learning a lot from him. And then MS Dhoni and the youngsters in the team are doing well. Everyone cares about each other.

Our support staff, Greg King and Tommy are doing much for the team despite various difficulties, some at the personal level. It is a kind of sacrifice. And when you sacrifice something is only when God gives you something. We I think that is what we have done, our franchise and our support staff," he summed up.

The star with the ball, Ravindra Jadeja too stressed on the way the support staff played its part saying it was down to some superb planning that he was able to remove dangermen Dwayne Smith and Kieron Pollard.

"Taking a wicket at that point in the match was very crucial. The way they had begun and were well-placed in the first ten overs, they were going very well. Getting a couple of wickets at that time was very crucial and that is what we did. Luckily we got Dwayne Smith and then Dinesh Karthik.

"The plan was to bowl in good areas and not give boundaries because the format is such that if the batsmen don't get boundaries then obviously there are chances of getting wickets. So that is what we were trying for; to get a breakthrough and then put pressure on them because they were in a very good position," he added.

The all-rounder added that they planned to bowl wide of off-stump to both Smith and Pollard in an attempt to make them reach for the ball and in the attempt give their wicket away.

"He(Pollard) is strong on the on-side, leg-side. The plan was to bowl to him outside off and make him stretch for his big shots. I was trying to keep the ball outside his reach and also was bowling slow to that he struggles with his timing.

The same was for Smith as well because in that innings, the sixes that he hit were over mid-wicket and mid-on. So our effort was to bowl to both of them outside the off-stump. Smith doesn't play much over covers or the cut shot. The idea was to bowl to him in that area and give him one run and get the other batter on strike," Jadeja added.

Jadeja still hasn't got the chance to impress with the bat during this edition and he said he hoped to get that chance in the final.

"I am waiting; whenever I get the opportunity (to abt)I should be able to make a good contribution to the team. But actually if I don't get to bat, it means top three-four batsmen are doing well and it helps the team win. I am ready to bat whenever the opportunity presents itself I will try to help the team to get into a good position and win. If I get to bat in the final, I will focus and try to play my game," he summed up.